Counterfeit Poli-Christians really BITE!

Ed,

Do you actually agree with this crap? [See stinky email in question, grudgingly placed after the end of my following opinion of those who use religion to further political agendas.]

Wake up believers [be you Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist]. Anyone who uses any religion to rationalize war, torture, slavery, prejudice or terrorism can not possibly share your religious beliefs; nor can they be concerned about following any path to spiritual enlightenment.

Now before you read one more word, know this. I support our troops. Defense of our nation and our way of life is a hard job and our military, police, fire and emergency folks show bravery and commitment to preserving our way of life. Their job is tough. They deserve our respect.

Some wars may seem just; and, some may seem to be fought for noble purposes. But, for those who choose to know; most wars can be described as neither just, nor born of noble purpose - being fought, instead, simply to gain power and wealth for the elite few. War is a tool often used by the powerful to further their self-serving agendas. As American citizens, we have a responsibility to question any conflict our leadership initiates that results in economic or political gain for the initiators. At any time, the decision to fight may be the right one, but we have an obligation to understand and hold our leadership accountable.

I don't know about you, but I am so tired of greedy, amoral, power brokers duping gullible masses into whipping themselves into "quasi-religious fervor" and "frenzied false patriotism;" for the purpose of promoting ideas and loyalties seemingly meant to support our ways of life - while actually serving to herd the common concerned citizen into supporting agendas for the material enrichment of a wealthy, powerful few. This sentiment applies to both sides of the battle lines.

The email below, currently making the chain-letter-like rounds of Internet email Inboxes is an example of such trite, but impactive, propaganda as is used by the powerful to dupe the ignorant into supporting, as honorable, the power-brokers' continuous grab for even more power and wealth. In the tradition of opportunistic and evil subversion of true Christian values, a' la the Holy Crusades and the Inquisition, the offensive email, below, invokes the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ to rationalize the war in Iraq.

Am I the only Christian outraged by this blatantly blasphemous appropriation of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the purpose of selling a political agenda?

Jesus was a Spiritual Warlord who declared and fought a war for the souls and enlightenment of humankind. And when time came for the decisive battle, He did not send the sons and daughters of His followers to fight it. He, alone, stood at the front. In doing so He left, as a legacy, a model of love, courage, commitment and honor for all true Christians to follow.

This insipid political email goes on to suggest, in it's melodramatic and irrational concluding line, "If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them." It also goes as far as to equate Jesus' death on the cross with George Bush's (Sr. & Jr.?) feud with Iraq. To borrow a great Republican comeback from an infamous Presidential Debate, "I know Jesus; and you, George Bush, are no Jesus." But, then just for the record, neither is the Pope, nor your Pastor, nor that Evangelist selling you prayer cloths on TV - nor the mullah telling you that killing innocent people by strapping a bomb to your chest will secure a place for you in heaven...how insane that? How evil is it to usurp the name of God in the furtherance of mortal grasps for power and money? Each of us gives power to such evil when we refuse to Think for Ourselves.

If the war in Iraq truly shares the magnitude of righteousness equal to that of Jesus' death on the cross - as this email suggests - then perhaps our political leadership, like Jesus, should have stepped out front and given their lives in Iraq for the good of all humanity - oh, or was it for the benefit of big oil, or was it to stop Iraq's heretofore undiscovered and mysterious "weapons of mass destruction," or was it in retribution for 911 [even though the terrorist organization believed responsible couldn't possibly be brought to justice in this manner - though, I guess it was a lot easier target], or...?

Perhaps in the future, we should exercise skeptical caution when faced with those declaring themselves representatives of the Christian Left or Right, because they are all Wrong. The only war Christianity is about is the war for humanity's salvation. All others are suspect. But - Think for Yourself (even when it comes to what you are reading, here).

[BTW: The one positive aspect of the email, below, is its support of our troops. In defense of our troops in Iraq, Vietnam, and everywhere/"everywhen" else...anyone dumb enough to blame troops for a sorry state of political or national affairs is, at worst, moronic, or, at best, deluded. Except in cases of mutiny or treason, troops usually don't declare war - our leaders do that. As has been true through time immemorial, soldiers are just doing the job they are given. We got a problem with the job itself? Take it up with our leaders - not the those who are dying on the front lines. You see, in America we can stand behind our troops, while disagreeing with our leadership, without committing treason or without being unpatriotic. I don't think many of us like thinking about this; because, holding ourselves and our leadership accountable presents almost insurmountable difficulties; because, such a path asks that we take responsibility and get off our lazy duffs and act.]
______________

DeRicki Johnson
U.S. FreeCitizen

"Where are the true Americans?
Wake Up and THINK FOR YOURSELF." -dj

----- Following is the email that the above commentary references----

From: EDWARD T BURTS
To: DeRicki Johnson
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:58:23 AM
Subject: Why Did My Son...

A mother asked President Bush, "Why did my son have to die in Iraq?"

Another mother asked President Kennedy, "Why did my son have to die in Vietnam?"

Another mother asked President Truman, "Why did my son have to die in Korea?

Another mother asked President F.D. Roosevelt, "Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima?"

Another mother asked President W. Wilson, "Why did my son have to die on the battlefield of France?"

Yet another mother asked President Lincoln, "Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg?"

And yet another mother asked President G. Washington, "Why did my son have to die near Valley Forge ?"

Then long, long ago, a mother asked... "Heavenly Father, why did my Son have to die On a cross outside of Jerusalem?"

The answers to all these are similar -- "So that others may have life and dwell in peace, happiness and freedom."

IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,
PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!!

This was emailed to me with no author. I thought the magnitude and simplicity were awesome

- END -

[ED: No wonder it's anonymous... -dj]